15 Science Research Programs for High School Students in New York
New York is home to a wide range of science research opportunities for high school students, from summer internships in university labs to global innovation challenges you can join from home. These programs allow you to move beyond textbooks and explore science. Whether working with researchers in biomedical labs, tackling environmental issues, or engaging in data-driven problem-solving, you will gain skills that can’t be learned in a classroom.
Science research programs are also a solid way to gain exposure to professional environments. Many of these programs are offered by universities, research centers, and leading organizations, creating opportunities to learn from experts, use advanced tools, and connect with mentors who can guide your future academic and career paths.
To help you find the best fit, we’ve curated a list of 15 standout science research programs in and around New York.
1. NYU Tandon - ARISE
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Free (includes $1,000 stipend upon completion)
Dates: June 2 - August 8
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors; must be full-time NYC residents attending NYC high schools
Deadline: February 21
Hosted by NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering, ARISE is a rigorous 10-week summer research program for high school students who live and study in New York City. Open to rising juniors and seniors, the program begins with a four-week foundation phase that covers lab safety, college-level writing, and research skills. You will then spend the remaining six weeks embedded in one of over 80 active NYU research labs, working alongside faculty, graduate students, and professionals on STEM projects! The program also includes support with college applications, access to mentorship, and continued research opportunities through its alumni network!
2. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program
Dates: Multiple cohorts year-round (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter), each lasting 12-15 weeks
Eligibility: High school students; Fellowship applicants should have prior experience or have completed AI Scholars
Deadline: Rolling deadlines based on cohort (Jan, May, Sept, Nov)
Veritas AI offers online programs designed to introduce high school students to the world of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science. Created by Harvard alumni, the curriculum includes both beginner and advanced options - from foundational bootcamps to mentored research experiences. If you are just starting, you can enrol in the AI Scholars program, a 10-session introductory series where they explore key AI concepts and apply them to projects. If you have prior experience, you can apply for the AI Fellowship, which pairs you with expert mentors to work on personalised research projects - often with opportunities to publish your work.
3. RISE - Environmentor Science Research Mentorship
Location: RISE, Far Rockaway, NYC
Cost: Free; A stipend of up to $1,200 is given
Dates: June to mid-August
Eligibility: NYC students in grades 9-11 who live in or near the Rockaway area
Deadline: Summer
Environmentor is a great summer research mentorship for high school students keen to explore environmental science. Designed for students living in New York City, particularly near the Rockaway Peninsula, the program connects participants with scientists and researchers to investigate topics related to local ecosystems, including Jamaica Bay and the surrounding shoreline. The experience is fully in-person and includes field research, science skill-building, and outdoor activities like kayaking and surfing.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program type (full financial aid available)
Dates: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter cohorts; programs last 12 weeks to 1 year
Eligibility: High school students with demonstrated academic excellence
Deadline: Rolling, varies by cohort
Lumiere is an advanced remote research initiative designed for high school students with strong academic records. The program pairs each student with a Ph.D. mentor for personalised, in-depth research across a wide range of academic fields - from international relations to physics, data science, psychology, and more. Over the course of a 12-week term (with longer options available), you will dive deep into your chosen topic and ultimately produce a polished independent research paper. This program is particularly helpful for those considering future research careers or selective college applications!
5. HIRES Summer Internship
Location: The Grove School of Engineering, NYC
Cost: Free + $1,000 stipend
Dates: Late June to mid-August
Eligibility: NYC students entering grades 10-12 with a GPA ≥ 80 and strong math scores; must meet program-specific academic criteria
Deadline: Summer
The HIRES program (High School Initiative in Remote Sensing of Earth Systems Science & Engineering) is a paid summer research experience for high school students in New York City. Over the course of 7 weeks, you will explore environmental science topics like climate change, water systems, and atmospheric studies through the lens of remote sensing and GIS (Geographic Information Systems). There’s coursework, fieldwork, and lab-based research with mentorship from CUNY scientists, culminating in a final research presentation at a summer symposium. This opportunity is designed for high-achieving NYC public or charter school students, especially those from backgrounds historically underrepresented in STEM. Students must demonstrate strong academic performance in math and English and be currently enrolled in (or have completed) Algebra 2/Trigonometry or Pre-Calculus.
6. Baruch College - STEM Research Academy
Location: Baruch College, Manhattan, NYC
Cost: Free; Stipend of $1,575 paid the following fall upon completion
Dates: Mid-July to Mid-August
Eligibility: Current 10th or 11th graders in NYC public schools with an overall average of 80+; priority given to students from partner schools and underrepresented backgrounds
Deadline: Mid-October to December
This program invites a select group of NYC public high school students to deepen their understanding of scientific research through classroom instruction and lab experience. The STEM Research Academy runs in summer and spring with a for-credit college course in research methods, where you will build essential skills like forming research questions, designing experiments, analysing scientific literature, and preparing for lab work. Those who successfully complete the spring course (with a grade of C or higher) are then matched with faculty mentors for a 6-week summer research placement within a CUNY lab.
7. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre - Summer Student Program
Location: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, NYC
Cost: Free; includes $1,200 stipend
Dates: June 30 - August 22
Eligibility: Current high school juniors; must live within 25 miles of MSK (NY, NJ, CT); 3.5+ GPA in science; legally authorized to work in the U.S.; 14+ years
Deadline: February 7
Since 2010, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre has offered an intensive summer experience for high school juniors curious about careers in biomedical science. This 8-week program blends research with professional development, giving you exposure to work in cancer biology, computational research, immunology, and more. You will be placed in MSK research labs and paired with scientific mentors to support independent lab-based projects. Through guided technical training, lab meetings, and structured programming, you will gain a deeper understanding of scientific inquiry and translational medicine. Outside the lab, sessions on careers, research ethics, and the MSK ecosystem round out the experience!
8. Montefiore Einstein Cancer Center - BEYOND ALBERT
Location: Montefiore Einstein Cancer Centre, Bronx, NY
Cost: Free; A stipend of $2,500 + meal vouchers + MetroCard is provided
Dates: June 30 - August 22 (summer); optional after-school program September-May
Eligibility: Bronx residents entering 11th or 12th grade in fall; must be 16+
Deadline: TBA (typically opens early in the year)
Open to high school juniors and seniors in the Bronx, this program at the Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Centre offers both summer and academic-year research experiences. BEYOND ALBERT (Bronx Einstein Youth Oncology Network Dedicated to Academic Learning, Biomedical Education and Research Training) High School Research Program introduces you to biomedical research through lab work, skill-building workshops, and mentorship. The program includes individual mentorship and culminates in students developing and presenting their own research projects!
9. Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory - Secondary School Field Research Program
Location: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, New York
Cost: No cost; students receive a monetary stipend
Dates: 6-week program in summer (exact dates not specified)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10-12
Deadline: Summer
The Secondary School Field Research Program (SSFRP) at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory offers high school students a good science experience during the summer. Over 6 weeks, you will work alongside undergraduate mentors, teachers, and professional researchers to explore environmental challenges through fieldwork and lab experiments. The primary research site is Piermont Marsh, a rich and dynamic wetland ecosystem that serves as a living laboratory. You will begin by engaging with scientific literature and building foundational knowledge about marsh ecosystems. From there, student teams collaborate to design and execute research projects on themes like carbon cycling, battery development using soil bacteria, nutrient flows, and sustainable approaches to managing invasive species.
10. The Rockefeller University - Jumpstart
Location: Rockefeller University, New York City
Cost: $3,500 stipend provided; no cost to apply
Dates: June 23 - August 7
Eligibility: NYC high school juniors or seniors; must also participate in the spring portion
Deadline: January 3
As part of Rockefeller University’s Jumpstart initiative, selected high school students from New York City spend the summer in full-time research through the Summer Science Research Program (SSRP). From late June to early August, you will join diverse research teams and work alongside scientists and peers to learn experimental techniques, carry out original research projects, and deepen your understanding of scientific inquiry. You will also receive mentorship and support throughout the process. This opportunity is ideal for NYC high school juniors and seniors who are curious about science and want to explore research in a university setting - especially those with limited prior access to STEM programs!
11. Lehman College - STEM Research Academy
Location: Lehman College, Bronx, NYC
Cost: Free; $1,575 stipend after spring + summer completion
Dates: Summer dates TBD
Eligibility: NYC public school sophomores or juniors with: Overall average of 80+; Math CC Regents 70+ or 1 year of Regents math with 80+ average; English and Science average of 80+
Deadline: December 20
This program introduces NYC public high school students to scientific research and environmental science through a combination of coursework and experience. You will begin with a spring course, and you may be selected for a paid 6-week summer research internship upon completion. The program aims to develop critical STEM skills and help students become confident scientific thinkers. Ideal for sophomores and juniors curious about STEM, the program is free, offers college credit, and provides a stipend upon successful completion of both spring and summer components!
12. HYPOTHEkids - New York Bioforce
Location: Spring training at Columbia University; internship sites vary (NYC-based)
Cost: Free to attend; paid summer internship
Dates: April-August
Eligibility: NYC public/charter school juniors and seniors
Deadline: Summer
New York Bioforce is a competitive, no-cost program for high school juniors and seniors from under-resourced backgrounds who are interested in science, healthcare, or technology. The experience includes a rigorous spring training phase focused on research methods and professional skills, followed by a 6-week paid summer internship in research labs, hospitals, or life science companies. You will gain exposure to science while also building the confidence and communication skills necessary to pursue a future in STEAM.
13. Bronx Zoo - TRUE Internship
Location: Bronx Zoo, Wildlife Conservation Society, NYC
Cost: Free; includes stipend ($750 in summer and $350 in fall) or hourly pay via SYEP if eligible
Dates: Late June-December (Summer: 3 days/week; Fall: 14 Saturdays)
Eligibility: Bronx residents in 10th or 11th grade, in good academic standing
Deadline: March 7
Project TRUE (Teens Researching Urban Ecology) is a unique opportunity for high school students in the Bronx to dive into real-world ecological research. Run by the Bronx Zoo’s Education Department in collaboration with Fordham University, this program invites 10th and 11th-graders to explore New York City’s urban wildlife and green spaces through guided scientific investigations. Over the summer and fall, you will become a field research assistant, collecting data on wildlife, water quality, invasive species, and more. Working alongside scientists, college mentors, and educators, you will learn how to design research questions, gather and analyse data, and communicate findings to both peers and the public. The program requires no prior experience - just curiosity, commitment, and a willingness to get outdoors. Training, mentorship, and college prep support are built into the experience!
14. Brooklyn College - Summer Program
Location: Remote (optional in-person components)
Cost: Free
Dates: Typically July through early August; course lengths vary
Eligibility: NYC DOE students entering 11th or 12th grade with required academic scores
Deadline: Varies; Usually in April/May
Brooklyn College’s summer courses are great for NYC public high school students to explore college-level coursework during the summer - completely free of charge. Open to rising juniors and seniors who meet eligibility criteria, the program ensures that you can enrol in credit-bearing courses across subjects like environmental science, sociology, and mathematics. All classes are taught by Brooklyn College faculty and held remotely, with some optional hands-on experiences. In addition to earning transferable college credit, you will sharpen your academic skills and deepen your understanding of topics like climate justice, social movements, and urban ecology.
15. New York Academy of Sciences
Location: Online (global participation)
Cost: Free
Dates: Fall cohort begins after August 31; students participate in challenges throughout the academic year
Eligibility: Students aged 13-17; proficient in English
Deadline: July 8
The Junior Academy is a free online program that brings together high school students from around the world to work on STEM challenges in international teams. Hosted on the Launchpad platform, the program enables you to collaborate with mentors, build skills in design thinking and data analysis, and propose solutions to global issues. Each challenge is supported by expert guidance and concludes with professional judging. The format is ideal for curious, collaborative teens ready to engage deeply with science and innovation.
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